The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-03

factory or to .'chuuk" the building at stated in
tervals with old bottles tin fruit cans. At
times the weather waxed noticeably warm: then
the president waved his palm-leaf fan with re-
newed vigor. the secretary waived her
business expression to untie her bon
netstrines aud the professional gentlemen
expressed themselves by languidly Tapping
the lapels of their light summer coats. Once IN
a while newspaper representative wouio
'trickle in Henry James has 1t, smile
patronizngy on the convention. absorb three
quarters of a column in three minutes observa-
tion put down in his note book all the matrons
as Miss aud all the misses as Mrs" and then
.strickler out again. One bold brave man came
down to the front. commuued with the secretary
and got the names all right, to his praise be it
and call hin, blessed. The programme moved
serens.y. A conspicuous feature OF 1t was
the fact that many who had been given places
upon it failed to appear; several had prop
erly withdrawn in time to have their
vacancies supplied, but . number were merely
distinguished by being uuexplainedly absent
nimble- minded enough for such emergencies.
Each deficit was supplied, and the audience
allowed neither to wal. nor suffer. AS modesty
is the distinguishing characteristics OF all true
genius it is not my intent to torture with
pointed personal praise the prose-writers and
poets whose contributions gave us pleasure; but
with that sweeping impartality which makes
the wise critic beloved of his fellow man. let me
say only that there was no dull matter
in the programme .. and that the .. dis
ing. It is true that argument
as to the relation between literature and
the newspapers did fzzle off into q corner and
surprise itself and everybody else by becoming
an investigation of the animus which prompts
women to lavish attentions and bouquets on
men In Jail for murder: but the president
promptly brought the offending disAnfsion to
taw, and all was forgiven and forgottyn One
rash young man, too, took his life in hand, and
stated that all that women read in the newspa-
gers was the society column and the dog
items. but 1.-The sex glared at him so unani-
mously. and the men and brethren to resent
his views so promptly that he sat own con
in his acquaintances among feminine readers.
It was matter for universal regret that the
memorial session for the late Major Gordon was
so slimly attended To all present, however, it
was an occasion of much interest and sincere
feeling The social features of the convention
not to be passed over without comment. 1t
was pleasant to behold in material form those
who had hitherto heretofore" as the sweet
singer of Michigan puts it, only existed
vapory ideas; and it was comforting to be able
to paste in the mind the form and likeness or the
individual! as his or her lines or verses were al
ready pasted in ones scrap book. Occasionally
as when ones tall and slim, intellectual
looking ideal resolved himself into a being
short. fat and placid, OF when ones blonde, blue
be-ribboned, angelic verse maker was presented
in the euise of dark, creolish matron with a
yellow bonnet on top OF her intellect. Taken
''by and large" however, the convention was
That it was not larRely attended must be chiefly
matter of regret to those who were absent. AS
to size. it must be estimated as che small darby
computed her age: ''Goin' by years. Use only
eight, but Tse hundred if you 60 by the fun
Use had" On this basis it was big conven-
ton. It not. many may imagine.
mutual admiration society. but assem-
blage of earnest and women, in
pursuance of a serious common interest the dis
cussion of literary art, and all topics tending to
mutual improvement in that line. At the clos
ing business session the association made
change of which it is to be
graduated. May the Western Association of
Authors come again and again, and continue to
abide with until its fondest hopes for q pros
porous, solidly- stablished and powerful organi-
zation have been crowned with realization.